This editorial discusses a landmark 2025 retrospective cohort study by Suzuki et al using > 23000 endoscopic records from Japan's Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication program. The study addressed the clinically significant phenomenon of persistent dyspeptic symptoms after successful bacterial eradication. Comprehensive analysis revealed that 28.7% of the patients continued to experience functional dyspepsia (defined as self-reported upper abdominal pain or bloating) after eradication, a prevalence rate indistinguishable from that of the never-infected control groups. Notably, Suzuki et al demonstrated no significant epidemiological association between dyspepsia and the risk of gastric cancer. These findings suggest that persistent symptoms may originate from multifactorial mechanisms, including post-eradication alterations in gastric acid secretion, visceral hypersensitivity, and potential gastric microbiome changes. These evidence-based insights support the implementation of stratified management approaches based on individual symptom patterns and sociodemographic characteristics, moving beyond uniform eradication protocols. This study recommends reducing emphasis on dyspepsia symptoms in revising endoscopic screening guidelines to minimize unnecessary interventions and improve medical resource efficiency. This research contributes significantly to mitigating public health anxiety regarding H. pylori infection, prevents indiscriminate antibacterial overuse, and provides a robust scientific foundation for developing more rational, evidence-based clinical decision-making frameworks for H. pylori-associated dyspepsia management.
Lu et al. (Mon,) studied this question.